DFS Namespace using FRS replication

I am inherited a DFS mess. The DFS namespace is running on Windows 2003 Server is working correctly. I am doing cleanup work. WHen I look at one of the namespace folders it says the 3 member server targets are being replicated using FRS

I am just learning DFS , so please bear with me. I have read FRS causes data loss and should be converted to using DFS replication
My first concern is I have a folder called GPO that is being replicated to 17 member servers using FRS. I think this is causing excessive network traffic, and I also see FRS errors on each of these member servers. How do I safely disable this FRS replication on namespace and are there any steps to take at the other end on the member servers when I disable it's FRS replication? For now I have disabled the targets on this folder.

Who is Participating?

Lets try this as an example:
You have four servers that are the targets for GPO. Two servers use NTFRS for replication and two use DFS replication.
The data replication mechanism is separate from the DFS publishing mechanism. The data replication will occur whether the target is published or not on a Win2k3 R2.

I.e. in DFS management on the win2k3R2 you have two groups DFS publishing and the replication groups where you define what are the replica targets.
use the DFS management on a win2k3 to remove the pre win2k3 R2 published targets.

I think that the pre win2k3 R2 once the target is removed from Distributed File System interface the replication ends along side.

R2 has both interface distributed file system and the DFS management in the Administrative tools.

You can verify whether it is the case or not by setting up a test-share with NTFRs replicas as well as R2 DFS replicated and see whether the approach you intend to take has an adverse affect.

I believe that comingling DFS targets between pre win2k3 R2 and post was not advisable.

Do you have an option to create a brand new DFS share using win2k3 R2 Targets only? This might be a safer approach.
Hopefully the access to the GPO share is handled through a GPO/login script that you can alter.

I know 2003 Server R2 version is required to support DFS replication. The problem that I have
is DFS replication was setup when Windows 2000 servers were used for it's destination replication.At that time native DFS replication could not be used. So FRS was apparently used. Some other IT guy set this up in the past.

I want to turn off the DFS replication on this GPO folder(still using FRS) I need to be sure turning it off on the DFS namespace folder doesn't affect the member servers the replication is using. I have disabled their targets first (17 targets) . I want to be safe and not cause any issues thus why I subbmitted this question.

Here is a snapshot of the DFS repication proporites on the folder which is using FRS replication. Native DFS replication didn't exist on WIndows 2000 server when this was setup in the past.
-see attached doc
Let me know if any more information is needed. Thank you.DFS-replication-on-GPO-folder.doc